Heat Tapes and Water Hoses

[JHarrelson]

Hello folks,

Well, it's that time of year again and I'm sure that the question of heat tapes and water hoses will pop up as it always does when cold weather comes.

Here is a post that I made a few years ago and placed on several RV forums to hopefully help folks with their questions on proper use of a heat tape. Maybe once again, it will help some of you.

Best wishes,
John

************************start post here ****************************************************

There is a lot of misconception about using heat tapes and water hoses..

Please remember while reading this ... I am not saying that everyone should do as I do... only that they should research the heat tape/water hose issue and use their own common sense to make their own decision.

There are about a dozen RV forums on the Internet and the heat tape question is debated on all of them.

Here are excerpts from some of my past postings on the subject..
********************************************************************
I have always used the regular "WHITE" water hoses. I have never had one to break or melt due to freezing weather or using a heat tape.

However, I had one burst in August because the hose was laying in the sun without any protection. The sun heated the hose up so much that the water built up enough pressure to actually "blow" a hole in the hose..

After that disaster, I leave the heat tape and insulation on the water hose all year round. Never had a problem since.
Yes, I do unplug the heat tape in the summer months, but that's only to free up the receptacle for the outside lighting and BBQ.

I have always "spiraled" the heat tape around the white water hose and have NEVER had a problem of any type.

I make one spiral wrap around every three feet on the hose. Thus a ten-foot hose would have three spirals of the heat tape on it.

Stories of heat tapes melting the white water hose are hogwash.

Under normal operation and with proper installation, the heat "tape" never gets hotter that 40/45 degrees, and about the only thing that 45 degrees can melt is ice cubes and ice cream..

Please note: A heat tape is different from the "commercial" single-wire type of "pipe heating wires" used on metal pipes like in dairy farm operations.
NEVER try to use any type of "COMMERCIAL" heat wires on any kind of NON-METAL pipe/hose

A "heat tape" is a long plastic ribbon that is attached to the water hose that feeds your trailer when you are hooked up to city water.

It works just like an electric blanket does on your bed or the forced air furnace in your home or RV. It cycles on and off to maintain a pre-set temperature that is controlled by a thermostat.

A heat tape does NOT stay on all the time. It has a thermostat and will cycle on and off as needed.

In the case of a heat tape, it's non-adjustable thermostat is set to maintain a temperature of about 40/45 degrees on your water hose so the water won't freeze during the winter.

The heat tape must be used in combination with some type of insulation. By itself it does a very poor job.

There are several types and brand names of heat tapes on the market, but the only one that I can recommend is the one made by "Frost King."

Try to get the model with the "clear plastic bubble" located on the end of the tape where the 110 volt plug is.

When the tape is plugged in, a little red light will glow inside the clear plastic bubble and you will know that it's working properly.
_________________
John

[TannerBee]

Thanks for all that, John. Good work.
_________________
Floyd and Tanner
Coachmen Santara 35
Rock Hill SC

Time is either spent or invested.

[DXSMac]

Thanks! I have heat tape, but I was told it would melt a white hose, so I just use the water tank in winter, and thus I have to fill up every three days.

Good information!

JJ
_________________
Please check out my blog on RV'ing without a tow car:

http://rvingtoadless.blogspot.com/

Feel free to leave me any comments.

[Luvs2camp]

While camping in early December in Tennessee, the temps got down to 21 degrees. I used a heat strip on my white hose. I bought some regular pipe insulation (less than $4) that is similar to the “swim noodles” that kids use in the pool.

I wrapped the hose with the insulation and then went back and tucked the heat strip right inside between the hose and insulation. I wrapped duct tape around it every 12-14 inches to hold it in place.

I was only using a 12-foot white hose and the strip was 25 feet. I was able to start at the point where the hose connected to the camper and go back toward the spigot, then wrap the spigot and the pipe coming from the ground. The power box was next to the water spigot and I just plugged it in to the 110v receptacle there. I covered the spigot and tall pipe with a towel, and applied duct tape around it and covered it with a garbage bag.

We had no problems with water. As previously posted, the heat strip has a thermostat on it and never got hot. I actually wondered if it was heating as I could barely feel any warmth coming off the strip. I don’t think it got above 40 degrees, just enough to keep the pipes from freezing.

We stayed 6 days. After breaking camp, I simply cut the duct tape along the insulation and removed the hose and heat tape. I tossed the insulation that still had the duct tape all over it. For a $4 cost for 6 days, I think I got my money’s worth out of it. The heat tape rolls up and went back into its carton until the next time I need it. I will just buy another pack of insulation before I take another trip in cold weather and do the same thing again.

I bought the heat strip at Wal-Mart and it was $18. It sure beats having to go out and unhook your water hose at night and the re-hook it the next day as recommended by the campground!

Happy Camping!
_________________
Mark Sturges
Baton Rouge, LA